Attorney: Longo’s wife feared for her safety

Tuesday

Sep 29, 2009 at 12:01 AMSep 29, 2009 at 1:40 PM

By the time Kristin Longo and her husband, Utica police Investigator Joseph Longo Jr., appeared in divorce court Monday afternoon, she already had been living in fear for her safety, her attorney said Tuesday.

By the time Kristin Longo and her husband, Utica police Investigator Joseph Longo Jr., appeared in divorce court Monday afternoon, she already had been living in fear for her safety, her attorney said Tuesday.

Attorney George Massoud had expressed such concerns to the state Supreme Court judge, as well as other agencies, he said, and that day’s proceeding ultimately became the last opportunity to keep her safe.

On Sept. 18, Kristin Longo had taken the first step toward divorcing her husband, officials said. Ten days later, it was too late.

Less than four hours after appearing in court Monday, 39-year-old Kristin Longo was dead, stabbed 13 times in her back and upper chest by her husband inside their Deerfield home, officials said.

The 13-year Utica Police Department veteran then turned the kitchen knife on himself, slashing 20 times at his abdomen, throat and wrists.

“As an advocate for Kristin, from my point of view, any and all steps were taken on her behalf in the courthouse and otherwise to protect her from what occurred,” Massoud said. But, he added, “Ultimately, there was a failure someplace.”

Interviews with several law enforcement officials Tuesday illustrated that concerns recently had arisen about Longo Jr.’s personal and professional life.

* About a month ago, the Utica Police Department had ordered Longo Jr. to stay away from his wife and the Cosby Manor Road home whenever he was on duty, city Police Chief Daniel LaBella said.

* Then several weeks ago, Longo Jr.’s department-issued weapon was taken away in light of incidents that occurred when he was working at Thomas R. Proctor High School this summer and concerns over “everybody’s safety,” LaBella said.

* Longo Jr. then was removed from his duties as a police liaison to the Utica School District and reassigned to desk duty, LaBella said.

* He also was offered counseling to cope with his emotional stress, and an internal disciplinary hearing was scheduled. That proceeding was to take place Tuesday – the day after the fatal stabbings, LaBella said.

Still, LaBella said Monday’s crime, which Longo Jr. confessed to before he died, was shocking.

“The Police Department here did everything possible. We could not have prevented this in any shape or fashion,” LaBella said. “I've known Joe for a number of years, and his wife, and if you were to ask me if I’d seen this coming, I would have to say, honestly, no. I don't think anybody – anybody – seen this coming.”

Concerns

Although Longo Jr. was known as a jokester throughout his career, the Police Department became concerned when an anonymous caller reported his questionable behavior with his firearm at Proctor High School, LaBella said.

In one instance, Longo Jr. reportedly pointed his weapon at a security officer at the high school and said, “stick ‘em up,” said Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara, who was made aware of the allegation.

In a second allegation, it was reported that Longo Jr. had threatened to harm himself with his weapon, McNamara said.

When Utica police told McNamara of the allegations, he said they did not appear to be criminal in nature. In the incident involving another officer, particularly, McNamara said an anonymous person reported Longo Jr. was just fooling around and never intended to scare anyone.

Still, McNamara advised the Police Department to complete its investigation and then provide the DA’s Office with a final report after the final disciplinary hearing.

“Obviously, the threat to kill himself did concern me because anytime someone threatens to do harm to their self, it causes you to pause and think,” McNamara said.

But like LaBella, McNamara said the Longo Jr. that killed his wife was nothing like the Longo Jr. they had long known.

In fact, Longo Jr. had been up in the DA’s Office just two hours before he killed his wife sometime between 3:30 p.m. and 3:50 p.m. Monday.

“He was up here happy, waving, talking, just being Joe,” McNamara said. “There was nothing that screamed out that this person was a ticking time bomb – nothing. Unfortunately, good people do bad things.”

What triggered the crime is unknown. But, McNamara said, “There’s absolutely nothing in this world that justified what Joe did.”

“This makes it impossible for us to mourn his death and to be sorry for him,” McNamara said. “He turned himself into a murderer.”

Department torn

Now, the Police Department must struggle with how to appropriately respond to the loss of a fellow member. Yes, Longo Jr. was a police officer, LaBella said, but he also is a killer.

Several officers who wore black mourning bands on their badges Tuesday were ordered to remove them until the department decides how to respond as a whole, LaBella said.

Still, he added, special attention was being offered to those officers who might have been particularly close to Longo Jr. and troubled by his death.

As Longo Jr.’s partner for five years, LaBella is among those both “saddened and angered” by the tragic shadow that has now darkened the investigator’s career.

Longo Jr. also worked as a correction officer for the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office from 1990 to 1995.

“He had a very distinguished police career, and he was my friend, but he forfeited that honor as far as what police officers stand for every day when he committed that horrible, terrible homicide,” LaBella said. “The victims here are Kristin and her four children, and they’re the ones who deserve our sympathies.”